Move Your Money

MOVE YOUR MONEY GUIDE

We can use our collective powers to create a powerful impact in defunding financial institutions that finance oil pipelines with our money, leading to indigenous rights violations, and threatens our land, air, and water supply.

With these 7 easy steps, you can leverage your consumer power to withdraw your personal finances from corrupt and unethical financial institutions and re-invest in local, not-for-profit credit unions. Banks should work for the people and our planet, and not for profit.

1. Is your bank one of the 17 banks directly funding the Dakota Access Pipeline?

1. If your bank is among this list, it's time to divest and close your account at a local branch! Visit your branch office and educate the staff on why you are closing your account. Ask to speak to the manager and hand them a letter explaining why you are moving your money to an ethical institution. A sample letter can be found here.

2. Move your money and open an account with a local credit union. Some credit union memberships are dependent on your work or geographic area. Ask your employer for a recommendation first.

4. Once your checks arrive, contact your place of work for a form to change your paycheck direct deposits to the new bank. You will need a blank check for this.

5. For the first stage, transfer the majority of your finances into to your new account, leaving some money for any payments that may be outstanding. Change automatic payments from credit cards, outstanding loans, and any recurring online payments (such as bills). You can check the withdrawal/debit history of your old account to see what needs to be changed.

6. Once all automatic payments have been changed and your paycheck is deposited into your new account, move the rest of your money from your old bank to the new credit union account. The balance should now read zero, and that should be powerful and gratifying moment!

7. Take a picture of yourself outside the bank with a sign and share it to social media. Be sure to tag #DivestLA!